Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB412: Hunting or Trapping License/Close Loophole
Status: Signed into law, July 23, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUNTING, TRAPPING, GAME ANIMALS, GAME BIRDS, DEER, AND PROTECTED WILDLIFE.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 7 of the delaware code relating to hunting, trapping, game animals, game birds, deer, and protected wildlife.
From the introduced text, May 12, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HUNTING, TRAPPING, GAME ANIMALS, GAME BIRDS, DEER, AND PROTECTED WILDLIFE. Section 1. Amend Chapter 5, Title 7 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: § 501. Licenses. (a) Every resident of this State, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, shall must obtain a general license before hunting, trapping and/or or fishing in this State; and every resident required to obtain a hunting license who was born after January 1, 1967, shall have must satisfactorily completed complete not less than 10 hours of approved instruction, which includes but is not limited to, including the safe and proficient use of hunting equipment, hunter responsibility, principles of wildlife management, wildlife identification and a hands-on live firing experience by a trained firearms instructor before such person makes application for a hunting license. Proof of completion of authorized hunter education courses of other states or Canadian provinces shall be accepted and deemed having met the instruction requirement. (b) Commencing July 1, 1986, every resident, except as otherwise provided, shall must obtain a trapping license before trapping any animals regulated by this title. Every resident required to obtain a trapping license who was born after January 1, 1978, shall have …
Sponsors
- William Carson (D, 28) · primary sponsor
- Jeffrey Spiegelman (R, 11)
- Brian Pettyjohn (R, 19)
Latest actions
- : HS 1 for HB 412 - Signed by Governor
- : HS 1 for HB 412 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
- : HS 1 for HB 412 - Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
- : HS 1 for HB 412 - Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
- : HS 1 for HB 412 - Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
- : Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 412
- : Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 10 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (2/3) (July 1, 2026): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (June 11, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB412?
- HB412 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Hunting or Trapping License/Close Loophole.
- What does HB412 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 7 of the delaware code relating to hunting, trapping, game animals, game birds, deer, and protected wildlife.
- What is the status of HB412?
- Signed into law as of July 23, 2026. Latest action: HS 1 for HB 412 - Signed by Governor (July 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB412?
- William Carson (D, 28), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB412?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143278
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.